Hapuna Information Update for October 8th, 2020
Hāpuna Beach State Park reopens following a shark sighting in Hāpuna Bay late Thursday morning (October 8th).
Published by: HIRSC - Hawaii Island (Hilo) Team
info@hiradioscannercommunity.com
The Hawaii Fire Department (HFD) Ocean Safety Lifeguards responded to a report of a shark sighting in Hāpuna Bay late Thursday morning (October 8th).
The initial sighting report came in at 10:45 am Thursday morning and HFD Ocean Safety Lifeguards at Hāpuna Beach along with Jet Ski 2 and Chopper 2 responded to investigate the sighting in Hāpuna Bay.
Upon further investigation, Ocean Safety Lifeguards at Hāpuna Beach spotted a shark (no size estimation or species was disclosed) swimming in waters approximately 30 yards offshore of the Westin Hāpuna Beach Resort. After confirming the shark sighting, Lifeguards immediately closed the waters of Hāpuna Beach, posted warning signs, and also warned beachgoers to stay out of the water and assisted any patrons in the water back to shore.
Waters of Hāpuna Bay would remain closed for 2 hours pending an aerial survey of the bay by Chopper 2 scheduled for 1:00 pm Thursday afternoon. Chopper 2 later conducted an aerial survey of Hāpuna Bay and came up with negative findings.
At 1:12 pm Thursday afternoon, Ocean Safety Lifeguards later reopened the waters of Hāpuna Bay to beachgoers following negative findings from Chopper 2, and the all-clear was given to safely reopen the beach.
No injuries were reported related to the shark sightings.